Berks Spring Assault 4!

Berks Warhammer 40K Group

Saturday, February 27, 2010

A good friend of mine I met online from playing Blood Bowl online (fumbbl.com), had talked to me about an idea he had. He was planning on trying to run a Fantasy world based RPG using the GURPS system, and doing it online.

18 months later, we are having a terrific time with this venture. The Wandered Roads Campaign features two distinct groups of wandering heroes that recently met up into combined sessions. For the past 18 months, the GM had been running 2 groups on alternating Sunday nights. South group and North group. Due to my schedule and ability to use a laptop computer from work, and due to some player attrition, I have been able to field a character in both groups.

We use a system called Map Tool to play online. It's actually a really neat forum. Between Posting on forums, and live play via java script and using the virtual game board, we can play a game just as if we were all sitting at a gaming table together. The only thing missing is the smell of Cheetos and Mountain Dew.

Recently, we just ran a few sessions with both groups combined. It was very interesting (especially playing 2 characters), but very fun.

We play Sunday nights at 9:00pm Central time (That's 10:00pm for you Eastern time zone folk like myself), and we play for about 3 or 4 hours.

I'm sure we could use one or two more players if we could round them up.

Welcome to my first attempt at blogging. Where to start? I guess with some introductions.

My name is Mike, and for gaming and hobbies, I used the moniker "Steel Thunder" for many years now.

This Blog will be an attempt to capture all of my games and hobbies into one setting. Currently i'm involved in Warhammer 40K, Warhammer Fantasy Battles, Blood Bowl, and starting to get back into the resurgance of Battletech.

A Little about me: I'm a single father, work full time as a firefighter and EMT. I've been involved in gaming in some form or another for over 25 years. I found games as a healthy break from the stresses of everyday reality and also as a format for me to explore my creative side, be it in writing stories, building models, painting, or actually playing the games themeselves.

I started with simple RPGs, my first introduction being into Dungeons and Dragons at the age of 11. We had a "playground leader" at the local park who rallied up about 6-8 of us youngsters into the game. He was a great game master too. His brother had written for Dragon Magazine and he knew his stuff. That was the same time the movie Krull came out. We were all hooked.

Now, some 25+ years later, being a single father and working a swing shift, the time to put into a weekly RPG is pretty much not a possibility any more. In recent years, after becoming a father, a good friend of mine turned me onto table top wargaming. I got my start with Warhammer Fantasy Battles, and started accumulating a lot of Dwarfs.

Eventually I was introduced to Blood Bowl (Best game GW ever made!), and Warhammer 40k. I also play in a weekly RPG using the new GURPS rules in a fantasy setting, done online with friends scattered all over the USA on Sunday evenings.

In recent years, I met up with a great group of people from the Adventurer's Guild in Harrisburg, PA. They run a terrific game store, truly a haven for gamers. From there I got inovlved in a rather serious group of Blood Bowl players that run 2-3 leagues a year and host quite a few tournaments. I've also been paying competetively in Warhammer 40k (Mainly with my orks), and have played in several tournaments in Harrisburg.

Last year, my local friends introduced me to a growing group here in Reading PA, and Berks county: The Berks Warhammer 40K group. Starting with just 4 people, the club is up to around 30 players and growing. We are now hosting tournaments in the local area and growing interest in the locale.

Well, as time permits and I figure how this all works, I will post pictures and links and such on this blog.

As for me, here is a list of games I do play or have played, or have interest getting into:

Games I used to play (and may again some day)* Dungeons and Dragons (Forgotten Realms Setting)* Star Wars RPG (West End Games)* Rolemaster RPG (Most detailed system out there, I still like it a lot)* Magic the Gathering CCG (selling off my old collection with help of the Adventurer's Guild)* Paranoia (Silly and Fun!)* Talisman board game (GW)* Axis & Allies (and Fortess America)* Star Frontiers (I know, dating myself now)* Marvel Heroes (sold all that off 15 years ago)

Well, that's all I have for now. I will learn how to link my other friends on here and such as I go along with this.

About Me

I'm a 30-something gamer who's been involved in gaming for many years, in fact for over 25+ years in a variety of games, and have shifted from RPGs to mainly table top wargaming. I do still participate in an online version of GURPS RPG with friends around the USA, as well as playing some games on the computer.
Currently I am also expanding into running Warhammer 40K tournaments and playing 40K competetively, continue to expand our game club and network, and just enjoy life.
Other games I currently play are: Blood Bowl, Warhammer Fantasy Battles, Flames of War, GURPS RPG, and Battletech.
Former games I used to play inlcude: Dungeons and Dragons, Star Wars RPG (West End Games, Rolemaster RPG, Magic the Gathering CCG, Paranoia, Various board games, Star Frontiers, and Marvel Heroes.